I tricked you into thinking you had the makings of an emperor, but you actually did it?

"Ugh."

Shen Ming sighed.

"What's wrong?" Xu Lingyue asked immediately.

"I've broken through to a higher realm," Shen Ming said.

Just now, the Xuan Tian Gate erupted with rich Xuanhuang Mother Qi, Heavenly Spirit Qi, and Hunyuan Qi.

By employing a three-pronged approach, he skipped the later stages of the second level of the Divine Treasury Realm and reached the Great Perfection.

The mind's spiritual reserves are overflowing, and the clarity of the sword's essence has been greatly enhanced.

"...Why are you sighing after breaking through to a higher realm?" Xu Lingyue asked, puzzled.

"If all the spiritual energy were in my possession, I should be able to directly reach the third stage of the Innate Realm."

As he spoke, Shen Ming looked at the Supreme Beings of Heaven and Earth present.

These powerful beings devoured everything; he, a mere second-stage Innate Realm cultivator, was no match for them at all.

"That's why they traveled all this way; otherwise, there wouldn't be enough peaches from the peach tree for so many people."

Xu Lingyue said, "Only in this way can we demonstrate the spirit and foundation of my Xuantian Sect."

Indeed, after what just happened, all forces felt the overwhelming power of the Xuantian Sect.

"The Spirit Realm that the Xuan Tian Gate leads to has these three energies, so wouldn't the beings there be born as supreme beings?" Shen Ming asked curiously.

"I don't know, no one who went in has ever come back." Xu Lingyue's expression turned somewhat wary as she said this.

Shen Ming nodded. If it's a place you can't come back from, then it's better not to go.

“Moreover, all that spiritual energy just now was given to you alone; it could have burst your body,” Xu Lingyue said.

"No, I possess an innate sacred body..."

"The Supreme Dao Embryo." Xu Lingyue had already learned to answer quickly.

Shen Ming smiled wryly. He had originally intended to say "Innate Sacred Body Dao Embryo," but he didn't explain.

At this moment, the guests took their seats.

On the jade table, delicacies were displayed in abundance, and fine wines and liquors exuded an enticing aroma.

The sounds of clinking glasses and exchanging toasts were incessant.

The Northern Region is vast, and many cultivators haven't seen each other for years.

We are gathered here today, and we have so much to talk about.

The music rose gently, like celestial music drifting down from the clouds.

A group of dancers dressed in colorful, flowing robes danced gracefully in mid-air.

The Rainbow Feather Robe is a magical garment that allows one to float in the air. Combined with graceful dance moves, it makes one feel as if they are in a celestial realm.

One of the top ten sects, the Taihao Sword Sect, is on this side.

The seat for the Supreme Elder, Zangjianren, was arranged to the right of the Xuanjian Elder.

They were both sword cultivators and had common topics to discuss.

"Haha, how did you know that our Ten Thousand Swords Peak has produced a disciple with a clear sword heart? And that he is now the Xuan Emperor?" Xuan Jian laughed loudly.

Huh? I didn't ask. The Hidden Sword Man was stunned for a moment, then immediately flattered, "That's right, the Dragon Abyss Sword Sect is full of praise, saying that your disciple killed the three major demonic sects in Lingzang and they were defeated one after another. Such a genius must have been secretly cultivated by you for many years."

Xuan Jian was slightly taken aback. To his shame, he had only seen what Shen Ming looked like today.

“Yes, I could tell he had extraordinary talent from the very first day he started. He was like a piece of fine jade; with just a little carving, he could become outstanding,” Xuanjian said.

Xie Tianjian, who was sitting in the back, raised an eyebrow, not expecting his master to be so concerned about his reputation.

Is this necessary? As a sword cultivator, one must uphold one's true nature.

"Peak Master Xie, what's wrong?"

The middle-aged man next to him noticed the change in his expression and asked curiously.

The middle-aged man is named Yan Renjian, one of the nine sword masters of the Taihao Sword Sect, whose status is equivalent to that of the peak master of the Xuantian Sect.

The two elders sat side by side, while they were positioned at the back.

"It's nothing." Xie Tianjian wouldn't be so blunt as to undermine his master.

“Old friend, since you speak so highly of him, why don’t you let my Taihao Sword Sect witness the swordsmanship of this Xuan Tianzi?” the Sword Concealer asked.

“Yes, of course, no problem.” Xuan Jian had no objections.

"Come here, Li Yingqiong, let Elder Xuanjian take a look." The Hidden Sword Man beckoned.

A female disciple from the Taihao Sword Sect stepped forward.

Elder Xuanjian's eyes lit up. This female disciple was about fifteen or sixteen years old, beautiful and innocent, with a touch of heroism between her eyebrows.

They possess a unique aura characteristic of sword cultivators.

"The Divine Treasury is at its fifth level, and the Sword Heart is crystal clear." The Sword Concealer's tone carried a hint of pride.

As a guest today, one should naturally be humble in speech and behavior, but when introducing his prized disciple, the sword cultivator's pride was evident.

"The sword heart is clear?!"

Elder Xuanjian was somewhat surprised.

Different styles of swordsmanship are of varying difficulty to master.

The greater the power of the sword, the greater the difficulty.

The Taihao Sword Sect's Taihao Sword Dao is one of the four major sword paths in the Northern Region.

Li Yingqiong, at such a young age, has achieved a clear understanding of swordsmanship.

“Old friend, my Xuan Tianzi is not only focused on the sword path, but also cultivates other true techniques and profound mysteries.” Xuan Jian greeted him in advance.

Compared to Elder Xuanyuan, Elder Xuanjian was much more clear-headed.

Shen Ming's most powerful technique is still the "Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Force".

"Haha, there's no need for such talk between us, Yingqiong. Let's stop here; friendship comes first," said the Hidden Sword Man.

"Yes."

Li Yingqiong didn't talk much, but her voice was clear and firm.

When the music stopped and the dancers left, Li Yingqiong stepped forward with her sword.

"Li Yingqiong of the Taihao Sword Sect requests instruction from the Xuan Emperor."

Upon hearing this, the guests put down their glasses and looked at him with concern.

This is exactly what everyone wants to see!

The Xuantian Sect specially cleared out an open space in preparation for this.

"come on."

On Shen Ming's side, Xu Lingyue cheered him on.

Shen Ming stood up and gripped the Mingxin Sword.

At this moment, Gu Changge, who was known as the second-level innate realm expert, stood up from the Taiyi Sect.

“Xuan Tianzi is at the second level of the Divine Treasury. Although I don’t know why he hasn’t caught up with our progress, Junior Sister Li can’t bully people like this.”

As soon as these words came out, the whole place was in an uproar.

In such a context, such remarks are extremely arrogant.

However, the three elders of the Taiyi Sect, namely Xingyue Ri, showed no intention of reprimanding them.

"What does it have to do with you?"

Li Yingqiong looked over coldly, not falling into the other party's rhetoric trap.

"Since Junior Sister Li is so eager to fight, I'll fight you."

Gu Changge stood up, her face radiating confidence.

“What does it have to do with me?” Li Yingqiong said again.

These words expressed the thoughts of everyone present: This is the Xuantian Sect. No matter what cultivation level Xuantianzi has, does it even matter to you?

If you challenge the Xuan Emperor, no one will say anything.

Now you're asking the Emperor Xuan to sit still and do nothing while you step in? Isn't that overstepping your bounds?

Fortunately, Li Yingqiong, though seemingly taciturn, is a smart person.

Some people don't like to talk, not because they are stupid, but because they are smart and don't want to say useless nonsense.

Gu Changge did not give up, and looked down at Shen Ming with a gaze that seemed to look down on all living beings.

"I just don't want to see the Emperor Xuan being bullied."

Shen Ming spoke first: "Senior Sister Li..."

Everyone was taken aback, not understanding why he was referring to Li Yingqiong.

Could it be that they genuinely believe Gu Changge meant well and are therefore targeting Li Yingqiong?

If that really happens, Li Yingqiong will be caught in the middle, pleasing neither side.

Xu Lingyue was secretly anxious, knowing that Shen Ming was indeed ignorant of social etiquette.

"Senior Sister Li, please wait a moment. I'll teach this weirdo a lesson."

Shen Ming then changed the subject.